Cap



Patented May 1, ldlfe l (JAP Arthur Goldstein, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Eagle Kn Mills, Milwaukee, Wis, a copartnershlp consisting of Max Karger and David Karger Application March 27,

2 Qlainis.

The present invention relates in general to im provements in the art of producing headwear. and relates more specifically to an improved elastic cap structure preferably formed by knit- 5 ting.

Generally defined, an object of the invention to provide an improved cap which is simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover highly effective in use.

it has heretofore been proposed, as shown in prior Patent #1395230, to D. Karger dated October 25, 1921, to provide a knitted cap consisting of a tight fitting crown having a partial band secured to the lower rear edge thereof, together with ear flaps knitted integral with the free edges the partial band and adapted to be detachably secured either to the top of the crown or to each other above the crown in order to hold them against the sides of the cap when not in use. In this prior type of cap, the use of the partial or segn ental at the lower portion of the crown, not only necessitated utilizing some means for holding the ear flaps in upper position, but prevented these flaps and the band segments from snugly engaging the head, neck and ears of the wearer, when folded down.

The present invention contemplates provision of an improved elastic cap structure of this general type, wherein all of the objectionable features of this prior patented cap are eliminated.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a simple snug fitting cap having adjustable integral ear laps which are constructed to hug the head of the wearer, irrespective of the position of adjustment thereof.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a new and useful knitted cap which is attractive in appearance, and which may be uickly converted from a warm weather cap into a head-gear adapted for cold weather wear.

till another specific object of the invention is to provide a compact knitted cap structure having integral and highly effective ear flaps, which may be manufactured and sold at minimum cost.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of one embodiment of the invention and of the mode of fabricating and of 5 utilizing knitted caps constructed in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views:

1933, Serial No. 662,916

Fig. l is a side view of the improved knitted capl applied to the head of the wearer, and showing the ear flaps turned up as for warm weather Wear; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the knitted cap applied to the h ad or" a wearer, with the ear fiaps turned down as for cold weather wear.

While the invention has been illustrated and described herein as being specifically applied in a knitted elastic cap, it is not intended to limit the scope by such specific disclosure, since the improvement is obviously more generally applicable to headwear having similarly elastic characteristics formed by processes other than knitting.

Referring to the drawing, the improved knitted cap comprises in general a crown 5 formed of a plurality of inter-knitted approximately triangular panels; a one-piece band 6 integrally connected along one edge to the lower edge of the crown 5 as by means of a seam 7; and a pair of ear flaps 8 of triangular shape formed integral with the free edge of the band 6 and disposed on opposite sides of the cap.

The several interconnected panels of the crown 5 may be knitted in difierent and attractive colors, and are of elastic texture so as to snugly engage the head 9 of a wearer regardless of variations in the head size. The continuous one-piece band 6 is also formed of highly elastic fabric, preferably by knitting, and is preferably formed separately from the crown 5 and is subsequently attached thereto at the seam 7 which should be insufficiently bulky to form a pronounced ridge when the ear flaps 8 are pulled down. The ear flaps 8 are disposed nearest the rear of the cap and each of these fiaps 8 is preferably formed by knitting the same integrally with and diagonally of the direction of extent of the band 6, and these ear flaps 8 are biased toward the crown 5 both by their own formation and by the extreme elasticity of the band 6. The band 6 and flaps 8 may also be produced in attractive colors to aid in beautifying the cap structure, and the crown 5, band 6 and flaps 8 may have either single or douole thickness of material.

When the cap is to be worn With the ear fiaps 8 not in use, the band 6 and flaps 8 may be positioned as shown in Fig. 1. wherein the crown 5 tightly hugs the head 9 of the wearer, and the band 6 and flaps 8 snugly engage the outer surface of the crown 5, with the points of the ear flaps located rearwardly of the center of the cap by virtue of the rearward disposition of these flaps. Or as an alternative, the band 6 and flaps 8 may be folded within the crown 5 to present the appearance of an ordinary tight fitting skull or top cap, with the band 6 and flaps 8 directly hugging the head 9 of the wearer and with the crown 5 concealing the band and flaps and snugly engaging the pate of the wearer's head.

If it becomes desirable to utilize the band 6 and ear flaps 8 for protective purposes, the band may be folded downwardly at the seam '7 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, whereupon the band 6 will additionally cover the forehead and neck of the wearer, and the flaps 8 will substantially cover the ears due to the disposition thereof nearest the rear of the cap. Due to the continuity or one-piece construction of the band 6, and to the high elasticity thereof and of the ear flaps 8, the latter will be drawn into snug engagement with the cars. If the band 6 and flaps 8 are initially disposed outside of the crown 5 as in Fig. 1, the cap need not be removed from the head 9 when lowering the adjustable parts as in Fig. 2, but such adjustment cannot be efiected without removal of the cap if the band and flaps are worn within the crown.

It will also be obvious that the elastic and compact construction of the improved cap will permit the same to be readily folded into a small package adapted for convenient concealment in a pocket or hand-bag. The structure also permits of variable decoration and coloring to meet the whims of the so-called collegiate class.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention provide an improved elastic cap structure which is simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover highly attractive in appearance. The improved knitted cap has also proven very effective in actual use, and while the flaps 8 have been illustracted as being knitted as direct continuations of diagonally knitted sections of the band 6, these flaps may be otherwise formed and attached to the band, if desired.

It should therefore be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of fabrication herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

t is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An elastic cap comprising, a knitted snugfitting crown, a continuous knitted band attached along one edge to the lower edge of said crown, and pointed substantially triangular ear flaps formed integral with the free edge of said band on opposite sides of the crown, said band being foldable upwardly about its attaching edge into engagement with said crown to position the points of said flaps in contact with the crown rearwardly or" the cap center, and said flaps being located nearer the rear of the cap so as to ca e the same to cover the ears of a wearer when said band is folded downwardly about said edge.

2. An elastic cap comprising, a knitted snugfitting crown, a continuous knitted band attached along one edge to the lower edge of said crown, and pointed substantially triangular ear flaps formed integral with the free edge of said band on opposite sides of the crown, said flaps being knitted diagonally of the direction of extent of the band. and said band being foldable upwardly about its attaching edge into engagement with said crown to position the points of said flaps in contact with the crown rearwardly of the cap center, and said flaps being located nearer the rear of the cap so as to cause the same to cover the ears of a wearer when said band is folded downwardly about said attaching edge.

ARTHUR GOLD-STEIN. 

